Flow detection device and numerical modeling method

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a flow detection device and numerical modeling method, the device for controlling the gas flow in the pipeline. The flow detection device includes a measurement pipe, valve control module, flow detection module and a processing module. The processing module can be detected by flow detection data a numerical model of the flow characteristics curve fitting. The processing module for feedback signal, it&#39;s for control the valve structure of open degree, with precise control of the flow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present discloses a flow detection device and numerical modelingmethod, in particular applicable to control gas flow in a pipeline andto establish numerical modeling based on data measurement and feedback acontrol signal to control an opening degree of a valve device so as tocontrol the flow in the pipeline precisely.

2. Description of the Related Art

Fluids in a piping system may be crushed due to the arrangement of pipeassemblies (valve, curved pipe, manifold pipe, varied diameter pipe,filter . . . etc.) such that distribution of the flow velocity and flowrate in the pipe becomes unstable. However, there are no any apparatusesthat enable to directly measure flow rate, and it can merely refer tothe result by flow rate detection devices. Owing to the difference ofusage environment, the simulated result from laboratory or inferredformula are not able to be applied in the scene, resulting that the flowrate control in the piping system being kept in open-loop controlenvironment; as a result, it is unable to effectively promote thecontrol precision thereof.

Moreover, when the piping fluid is flowing through a valve structure,the rear fluid causes different levels of turbulent flow as the openingangle variation of the valve structure, such that the signal precisionis decreased due to the increase of measurement error.

According to the preceding description, the inventor of the presentinvention is therefore designs a flow detection device and numericalmodeling method which aims to improve the current technique so as toincrease the industrial practicality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned technical problems of the prior art,purpose of the present invention is to provide a flow detection deviceand a numerical modeling method which measures the practical gas flowingcondition by directly connecting the measurement pipe within the pipingsystem, and to send the measurement signal arranged in differentpositions back the processing module to establish a numerical modeling,so that a corresponding control signal based on the set flow can be sentto adjust the opening degree of the valve structure.

In view of the aforementioned technical problems of the prior art,purpose of the present invention is to provide a flow detection deviceand a numerical modeling method, the applied numerical modeling is ableto be corrected according to practical detection signals so as toprovide stable flow and satisfy with the demand of flow and achievepurpose of feedback control.

According to the aforementioned purpose, the present invention is toprovide a flow detection device which is adapted to control a gas flowin a pipeline. The flow detection device may comprise a measurementpipe, a valve control module, a flow detection module and a processingmodule. The measurement pipe may be disposed at one side of thepipeline.

The valve control module may be disposed in the measurement pipe and maycomprise a valve structure and a valve actuating unit, the valve controlmodule may adjust an opening degree of the valve structure by the valveactuating unit.

The flow detection device may comprise a plurality of detection units,and the plurality of detection units respectively may be disposed at twosides of the measurement pipe and transmitting a plurality ofcorresponding detection signals. The processing module may receive theplurality of detection signals and establish a flow characteristicscurve fitting according to the plurality of detection signals, anddetermine to send a control signal to the valve control module based onthe flow characteristics curve fitting to control the opening degree ofthe valve structure so as to adjust gas throughput of the measurementpipe.

Preferably, the measurement pipe may further comprise a changeoverconnector contributing to assembly when pipe diameter of the measurementpipe may be different from pipe diameter of the pipeline.

Preferably, the valve structure may further comprise a surface coatingincreasing corrosion resistance of the valve structure.

Preferably, the flow detection device of the present invention mayfurther comprise a fairing module reducing turbulent flow.

Preferably, the flow characteristics curve fitting may calculate afitting by a data fitting algorithm.

Preferably, the data fitting algorithm may comprise least squaresmethod, conjugate gradient method or regression analysis.

Preferably, the plurality of detection signals may comprise windvelocity, wind pressure, wind temperature or combination thereof.

According to the aforementioned purpose, the present invention furtherprovides a flow detection numerical modeling method which may comprisethe following steps:

a) disposing a plurality of detection units at two sides of ameasurement pipe;

b) adjusting an opening degree of a valve structure by a valve actuatingunit orderly;

c) measuring a plurality of corresponding detection signals by theplurality of detection units;

d) returning the plurality of detection units to a processing module,and establishing a flow characteristics curve fitting by a data fittingalgorithm; and

e) determining to send a control signal to control the opening degree ofthe valve structure according to the flow characteristics curve fittingso as to adjust gas throughput of the measurement pipe.

Preferably, the data fitting algorithm may comprise least squaresmethod, conjugate gradient method or regression analysis.

Preferably, the plurality of detection signals may comprise windvelocity, wind pressure, wind temperature or combination thereof.

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a flowdetection device and numerical modeling method which may have one ormore following advantages:

1. Numerical modeling: using practical detected detection signals toestablish a corresponding numerical modeling matching up variousenvironments and further correct the modeling parameter obtained byinferred theory so as to promote the precision.

2. Instantly feedback: using a numerical modeling to establish the flowcharacteristics curve fitting to send a control signal to a valvecontrol module to control an opening degree of a valve structure so asto adjust gas throughput of a measurement pipe.

With these and other objects, advantages, and features of the inventionthat may become hereinafter apparent, the nature of the invention may bemore clearly understood by reference to the detailed description of theinvention, the embodiments and to the several drawings herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilledin the art to which the present invention pertains can realize thepresent invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a flow detection device of the resentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a flow detectiondevice of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of steps of a flow detection numerical modelingmethod of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilledin the art to which the present invention pertains can realize thepresent invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, thedescribed embodiments may be modified in various different ways, allwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be understoodmore fully from the detailed description given below and from theaccompanying drawings of various embodiments of the invention, which,however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specificembodiments, but are for explanation and understanding only.

Please refer to FIG. 1 along with FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of aflow detection device of the resent invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematicdiagram of an embodiment of a flow detection device of the presentinvention. It can be seen from the FIGS. that a flow detection device Sis to control gas flow in a pipeline 5, and to further adjust the flowin the pipeline 5 to benefit the follow-up application. The flowdetection device S comprises a measurement pipe 10, a valve controlmodule 20, a flow detection module 30 and a processing module 40.

The measurement pipe 10 is disposed at one side of the pipeline 5, andwhen the pipe diameters of the pipeline 5 and the measurement pipe 10are different from each other, a changeover connector 11 is added tocontribute to assembly.

The valve control module 20 is disposed in the measurement pipe 10, andthe valve control module 20 comprises a valve structure 21 and anactuating unit 22. The valve control module 20 adjusts an opening degreeof the valve structure 21 by the actuating unit 22. In applicability,the valve structure is common butterfly valve or the other kinds ofvalves; the adequate valve structure 21 is selected under the demandsfor diameter and strength of pipe, and outer surface of the valvestructure 21 is coated a surface coating 211 which increases corrosionresistance of the valve structure 21 to prevent corrosive gases in thepipeline 5 damaging the valve structure 21, resulting that the structureis destroyed or the device malfunctions.

The flow detection module 30 comprises a plurality of detection units31, and the plurality of detection units 31 are respectively disposed attwo sides of the measurement pipe and transmit a plurality ofcorresponding detection signals 315. The detection units 31 include aplug-in flow measurescope, ultrasonic flow measurescope, differentialpressure flow measurescope and so on. The detected detection signalscomprise a wind velocity, a wind pressure, wind temperature or thecombination thereof. The measurement when the detection signal 315changes into the wind temperature exceeds for the set threshold, thevalve control module 20 transmits the emergency signal to close thevalve structure 21, and transmits a warning signal to alert the operatorand for processing.

When a part of the plurality of detection units 31, which is disposed atfront end of the valve control module 20 is the flow field signal in themeasurement pipe 10, the related signals are relative stable as notbeing affected by the turbulent flow; and when the remaining detectionunits 31 are disposed at rear end of the valve control module 20, thedetected signal is unstable due to the influence of the turbulent flow,boundary current effect and so on. In order to resolve the technicalproblems, the present invention therefore provides the followingsolutions.

Firstly, it can correct and accordingly analyze the plurality ofdetection units 31 disposed at rear end of the valve control module 20via the detection signals 315 of different positions by usingarrangements of interval type, wrap-around or combination thereof so asto reduce the measurement error of the detection signals 315.

Secondly, it can add a fairing module 50 at rear end of the valvecontrol module 20 to reduce turbulent flow caused by the fluid in themeasurement pipe 10 being blocked as the deflection of the valvestructure 21 so as to promote the precision of the detection signals315.

Thirdly, by using the actuating unit 22 to slowly adjust the openingdegree of the valve structure 21, it can avoid the unstable detectionsignals 315 caused by the rapid change of flowing area.

The processing module 40 is to receive the plurality of detectionsignals 315 disposed at two sides of the measurement pipe 10, and toestablish a numerical modeling of the flow characteristics curve fitting44 by data fitting algorithm 42 such as least squares method, conjugategradient method or regression analysis and so on. When a user sets apredetermined flow, the flow detection device S uses the flowcharacteristics curve fitting 44 to send the corresponding controlsignal 405 to the valve control module 20 to control the opening degreeof the valve structure 21 so as to adjust gas throughput of themeasurement pipe 10. In addition, it can use the detection signals 315to feedback the opening degree of the valve structure 21 so as toprovide stable flow and satisfy with the set flow demand to achieve thepurpose of feedback control.

Furthermore, the user establishes several common or inferred flow fieldmodelings in the processing module 40, and selects adequate matchednumerical modeling based on practical application, and accordinglycorrects the flow characteristics curve fitting 44 of the numericalmodeling by the plurality of received detection signals 315.

If the built-in numerical modeling is unable to match up the usageenvironment, it has to control the valve actuating unit 22 to orderlyadjust the opening degree of the valve structure 21 based on themeasurement solution and capture the plurality of correspondingdetection signals 315 of the valve structure 21 in different levels bythe flow detection module 30 and return to the processing module 40 toestablish the corresponding flow characteristics curve fitting 44 by thedata fitting algorithm 42.

When the establishment or correction of the numerical modeling of theflow characteristics curve fitting 44 is completed, the user inputs thedesired flow demand to the processing module 40, and the processingmodule 40 calculates the desired flow demand in modeling of the flowcharacteristics curve fitting 44 to obtain the necessary opening degreeof the valve structure 21 and sends the corresponding control signal 405to the valve control module 20 to adjust the opening degree of the valvestructure 21, and the plurality of measured detection signals 315 arethereby used to feedback the opening degree of the valve structure 21.

Please refer to FIG. 3 which is a flow diagram of steps of flowdetection numerical modeling method of the present invention. In stepS1, the plurality of detection units 31 are disposed at two sides of ameasurement pipe 10. The plurality of detection units 31 are adequatelydisposed in relative position of the measurement pipe 10 based in thepractical environment and need. In step S2, the opening degree of thevalve structure 21 is adjusted by a valve actuating unit 22 orderly, andin step S3, the plurality of corresponding detection signals 315measured by the plurality of detection units 31. In implementation, theaction velocity of the valve actuating unit 22 can be controlled tofurther increase the measurement data quantity of the detection signals35.

In step S4, the plurality of detection units 315 are returned to theprocessing module 40, and the flow characteristics curve fitting 44 isestablished by a data fitting algorithm 42, wherein the flowcharacteristics curve fitting 44 establishes the corresponding numericalmodeling by the data fitting algorithm 42 such as least squares method,conjugate gradient method or regression analysis and so on.Subsequently, in step S5, it is determined to send the control signal405 to control the opening degree of the valve structure 21 according tothe flow characteristics curve fitting 44 so as to adjust gas throughputof the measurement pipe 10, wherein it can use the detection signals 315to feedback the opening degree of the valve structure 21 so that thestable flow is provided and the set flow demand is satisfied.

While the means of specific embodiments in present invention has beendescribed by reference drawings, numerous modifications and variationscould be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. Themodifications and variations should in a range limited by thespecification of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flow detection device adapted to control a gasflow in a pipeline, comprising: a measurement pipe disposed at one sideof the pipeline; a valve control module disposed in the measurement pipecomprising a valve structure and a valve actuating unit, and configuredfor adjusting an opening degree of the valve structure by the valveactuating unit; a flow detection module comprising a plurality ofdetection units, and the plurality of detection units respectivelydisposed at two sides of the measurement pipe and transmitting aplurality of corresponding detection signals; and a processing modulereceiving the plurality of detection signals and establishing a flowcharacteristics curve fitting according to the plurality of detectionsignals, and determining to send a control signal to the valve controlmodule based on the flow characteristics curve fitting to control theopening degree of the valve structure so as to adjust gas throughput ofthe measurement pipe.
 2. The flow detection device of claim 1, whereinthe measurement pipe further comprises a changeover connectorcontributing to assembly when pipe diameter of the measurement pipe isdifferent from pipe diameter of the pipeline.
 3. The flow detectiondevice of claim 1, wherein the valve structure further comprises asurface coating increasing corrosion resistance of the valve structure.4. The flow detection device of claim 1, further comprising a fairingmodule reducing turbulent flow.
 5. The flow detection device of claim 1,wherein the flow characteristics curve fitting calculates a fitting by adata fitting algorithm.
 6. The flow detection device of claim 5, whereinthe data fitting algorithm comprises least squares method, a conjugategradient method or a regression analysis.
 7. The flow detection deviceof claim 1, wherein the plurality of detection signals comprises windvelocity, wind pressure, wind temperature or combination thereof.
 8. Aflow detection numerical modeling method, comprising: a) disposing aplurality of detection units at two sides of a measurement pipe; b)adjusting an opening degree of a valve structure by a valve actuatingunit orderly; c) measuring a plurality of corresponding detectionsignals by the plurality of detection units; d) returning the pluralityof detection units to a processing module, and establishing a flowcharacteristics curve fitting by a data fitting algorithm; and e)determining to send a control signal to control the opening degree ofthe valve structure according to the flow characteristics curve fittingso as to adjust gas throughput of the measurement pipe.
 9. The flowdetection numerical modeling method of claim 8, wherein the data fittingalgorithm comprises least squares method, a conjugate gradient method ora regression analysis.
 10. The flow detection numerical modeling methodof claim 8, wherein the plurality of detection signals comprises windvelocity, wind pressure, wind temperature or combination thereof.